Exam 1 (Ch 1-4) Flashcards
__% of air is within 30 km.
90
All weather events occur within __ km from the surface of earth.
11
Invisible gas, 4% of the atmospheric gases in the tropics, less than 1% in the arctics
Water vapor
The transformation of liquid to water vapor
Evaporation
The transformation of water vapor into liquid
Condensation
About 0.038% of air. Comes from volcanic eruptions, exhalations of animal life, burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), and deforestation
Carbon dioxide
Permanent gas that makes up 78% of air
Nitrogen
Permanent gas that makes up 21% of air
Oxygen
___________ is an extremely important gas in our atmosphere because it releases large amounts of heat (latent heat) when it changes from vapor into liquid water or ice.
Water vapor
When plants consume carbon dioxide to produce green matter
Photosynthesis
Irritates the eyes and the throat, damages vegetation, and is primary made up of ozone
Photochemical smog
Gas at constant concentration from place to place and time to time
Permanent gas
Gas where distribution changes over time and place
Variable gas
What are some greenhouse gases?
Carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons
Tiny solid or liquid suspended particles of various components (excluding water)
Aerosols
Human-made impurities (and some natural ones) such as gas from automobiles
Pollutants
What was most likely the earth’s first primary atmospheric gases? (Also two most abundant gases found in the universe)
Helium and hydrogen
Primary ingredient of photochemical smog, but also mostly found (97%) in the upper atmosphere (stratosphere) where it is formed naturally as oxygen atoms combine with oxygen molecules.
Ozone
Outpouring of gasses from the hot interior of the Earth
Outgassing
The number of air molecules in a given space (volume). Equal to mass times volume.
Air density
Rate at which the air temperature decreases with height
Lapse rate
The amount of force exerted over an area of surface. (Hint: also known as atmospheric pressure.)
Air pressure
Air temperature increasing with height
Temperature inversion
Instrument that measures the vertical profile of air temperature on the atmosphere up to an elevation sometimes exceeding 30 km
Radiosonde
The region of circulating air extending upward from the earth’s surface to where the air stops becoming colder with height
Troposphere
Region where air temperature remains constant with height. Bottom is top of troposphere and beginning of stratosphere
Isothermal (equal temperature) zone
Above troposphere
Stratosphere
Boundary separating troposphere from stratosphere
Tropopause
“Middle sphere” above stratosphere, can cause hypoxia (oxygen starvation) due to fewer oxygen levels
Mesosphere
“Hot layer” where oxygen molecules absorb energetic solar rays, warming the air
Thermosphere
Electrified region where large concentrations of ions and free electrons exist
Ionosphere
Atmospheric zone 90-500 km where oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen atoms absorb solar rays, and move at fast speeds
Thermosphere
Boundary between mesosphere and thermosphere
Mesopause
Atmospheric zone 55-85 km. Extremely thin air. No heating in this layer.
Mesosphere
Boundary separating stratosphere from mesosphere
Stratopause
Atmospheric zone 15-50 km where ozone absorbs UV energy from the sun
Stratosphere
Boundary between troposphere and stratosphere
Tropopause
Atmospheric zone (approx) 0-11 km where jet streams occur
Troposphere
Atmospheric ________ at any level represents the total mass of air above that level.
Pressure
Atmospheric pressure always ________ with increasing height above the surface.
Decreases
The atmosphere may be divided into layers (or regions) based on its:
- Vertical profile of temperature
- Gaseous compositions
- Electrical properties
The rate at which air temperature decreases with height
Lapse rate
A measured increase in air temperature with height
Inversion
We live at the bottom of the ________.
Troposphere
The troposphere is an atmospheric layer where the air temperature normally ________ with height, and is a region that contains all of the ________ we are familiar with.
Decreases; weather
Weather is comprised of (7 things):
- Air temperature (degrees)
- Air pressure (force of air)
- Humidity (amount of water vapor in the air)
- Clouds (visible mass of water droplets and or ice crystals)
- Precipitation (form of water reaching ground)
- Visibility (greatest distance one can see)
- Wind (horizontal movement of air)
Thin, gaseous envelope comprised of mostly Nitrogen, Oxygen, and small amounts of other gases
Atmosphere
Average weather for a particular region
Climate
A storm that forms outside the tropics
Middle-latitude cyclonic storm
Tropical storm system that has a swirling band of clouds and surface winds of excess
Hurricane
Tall, churning clouds accompanied by lightning, thunder, strong gusty winds and heavy rain
Thunderstorms
Intense rotating column of air that extends downward from the base of a thunderstorm
Tornado
Horizontal movement of air
Wind
Direction from which the wind is blowing
Wind direction
The boundary that separates the warm and cool air, appears as a heavy, dark line on the map
Front
Hypothesis that withstands examination
Theory
Device that measures pressure
Barometer
The more air that is above us, the greater the ________.
Pressure
Energy related to motion
Kinetic energy
Temperature measures the ________ of atoms and molecules, i.e. average kinetic energy.
Speed
How do you change degrees from Fahrenheit to Celsius and vise versa?
T(celcius) * 1.8 + 32 = T(fahrenheit)
[ T(fahrenheit) - 32 ] / 1.8 = T(celsius)
